Drilling apparatus



Allg- 21, 1951 H. A. TAYLOR 2,565,101

DRILLING APPARATUS BY HIS HTTORNE KS. HA efe/5, K/EcH, Fos TekaHnRR/s Aug- 21, 1951 H. A. TAYLOR 2,565,101

' RILLING APPARATUS Filed June 1".7.y 1949 4 5 SheebS-Sheb 2 Y Ho WARD TAY/ 0R 8Y H/ ATTORNEYS.

Hn faQ/s, K/cf-f, FOSTER HA RR/s H. A. TAYLOR DRILLING APPARATUS Aug. 2l, 1951 5 'sheets-sheet s /N VENTO/z.v Ho WARD A. TAY/ 0R Y H15 ATTORNEYS. cH, FOSTER Hmm/s Filed June 1'.7, 1949 Y B Hake/Km Aug. 21, 1951 H. A. TAYLOR 2,565,101

' DRILLING APPARATUS Filed June 17, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 //v VEN ro/P.

How DATHY R HTTORNE.

f f BY H HA R12/s, K/ECH, Fosl TER 3. HAR/els Aug. 2l, 1951 A H. A. TAYLOR :2,555,101

` DRILLING APPARATUS Filed vJune 17. 1949 5 sheets-snaai 5 VAHWT NDA x AHH,

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Patented Aug. 2K1, 1951 DRILLING APPARATUS Howard A. Taylor, Temecula, Calif., assignor of one-half to Manley L. Natland, Lomita, and one-half to Lester Callahan, Long Beach, Calif.

Application J une 17, 1949, Serial No. 99,718

My invention relates to a drilling apparatus particularly suited for drilling wells while making it possible periodically to obtain cores from the drilled strata without removing the drilling equipment from the well.

In my prior ap-plication Serial No. 705,691, led October 25, 1946, now Patent No. 2,520,517, I have disclosed a drilling structure adapted to drill in an annular Zone to leave a central Core portion which rises in a tubular member as drilling progresses. Bending forces are applied to the upper end of the core portion to subdivide same into core sections or core masses which are discharged into the mud stream. When such a bit is pulled for inspection, repair or replacement, there is carried upward a length of the core portion, contained in the tubular member, which gives valuable geological data as to the recent1ydri1led strata.

In the prior structure, considerable savings are effected as compared with the use of a yconventional core bit which is lowered -for a relatively short drilling period, particularly as excursions into and from the well are costly and timeconsuming in requiring coupling and uncoupling of a multitude of stands of drill pipe. The apparatus of my prior application makes it possible to obtain a core each time the bit is pulled but it is sometimes desirable to take cores more frequently, particularly when penetrating critical formations.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus whereby a core can be taken at any time during the drilling operation and without removing the bit from the well.

Another object of the invention is to provide a coring structure adapted to drive a bit capable of producing a central core portion and being equipped with a removable core-receiving or corewithdrawing unit connectible to a sand line or other lifting element lowered through the drill string.

It is of particular advantage to employ a core- Withdrawing unit equipped with a sidewardlyfacing window communicating with a sidewardlyfacing window of the tubular drive unit, these windows receiving and discharging into the rising mud stream the subdivided core portion. With such an arrangement, and if the core-withdrawing unit is to be withdrawable from the tubular drive unit, I have found it necessary to provide means for orienting the relative angular positions of the units to bring such windows into registry or alignment. It is an important object of the present invention to provide a structure with such an orienting means.

`16 Claims. (Cl. lZ55-1.4)

Another object of the invention is to provide such a structure in which the core-withdrawing unit is automatically turned angularly during lowering into the tubular drive unit to insure that such windows will be in registry or alignment.

It is usually the practice to force downwardly through the drill string a dense drilling mud under high pressure, this mud discharging through passages of the bit and rising in the annular space within the well around the drill string. It is an object of the present invention to prevent the drilling mud from being by-passed from the interior of the drill string through the aligned windows or either of them. The invention contemplates various types of sealing means for this purpose.

Another object of the invention is to eiect such a sealing action between the tubular drive unit and the core-withdrawing unit in such way that these units can be separated and reassembled at a reinoteA point while insuring satisfactory operation of the sealing means.

It is a further object of the invention to iiow the drilling mud downwardly below the window one and with a minimum of impedance to such Further objects and advantages of the invention will be evident to those skilled in the art from the following description of exemplary embodiments.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the upper portion of one embodiment oi the invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar longitudinal sectional View of the lower portion of this embodiment of the invention, the portion within the dotted rectangle A being actually a sectional view in a plane transverseto the paper but being swung into the plane of the paper;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 4 and 5 are transverse sectional views respectively taken on the lines 4--4 and 5 5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the inner member of the invention, shown partially in Figs. 1 and 2, as viewed in the direction of arrow 6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. '7 is a longitudinal sectional View of the upper portion of an alternative embodiment of the invention, Vwhile Fig. 8 is a similar sectional view of the lower portion thereof with a shift in planes as described with reference to Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional View taken on the line 9--9 of Fig. 7;

Fig. is a fragmentary sectional view, partly in elevation, taken approximately along the line Ill- Ill of Fig. 7;

Fig. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of another embodiment of the invention;

Figs. 12, 13 and 14 are transverse sectional views taken respectively along the lines l2-|2, |3-I3 and lil-l of Fig. 11;

Figs. 15 and 16 are longitudinal sectional views of upper and lower portions of another embodiment of the invention, and;

Figs. 17-20, inclusive, are transverse sectional views taken along corresponding lines of Fig. 15.

Referring particularly to Figs. l and 2, the invention employs a bit 2G connected to a tubular drive unit 2|. The tubular drive unit 2| is connected by any suitable means, such as a collar 22, to the lower end of a drill string 23 comprising the usual drill column which can be uncoupled in sections and which is connected to the usual rotary table to drive the bit. The invention is characterized by the use of a removable core-receiving or core-withdrawing unit generally indicated by the numeral 25.

More specically, the bit 2|] is or the type adapted to drill into the earth in an annular zone 2S, to leave an upstanding core portion 2l. While various types of bits can be employed, the one illustrated in Fig. 2 includes a massive bit body 28 having a depending head 29 centrally apertured to retain a sleeve Se providing a central passage 3 in which the core portion 2l may rise as drilling progresses. The sleeve 3@ may be welded in place by hard-weld or abrasive-resisting material 32 applied to the lower flat face portions of the depending head 29.

The bit body 2S provides diametrically opposed depending arms 33 and two diametrically opposite rotary gage cutters 34 are pivoted on conventional pins extending from such` depending arms to lower portions of the depending head 29. In a plane at right angles to the paper, the bit body 28 also provides diametrically opposed depending arms 36 carrying stub-like pins which journal diametrically opposed mill cutters 3l. In the bit exemplied in Fig. 2, the gage cutters 34 and the mill cutters 3l' cut into the earth in outer and inner portions of the annular zone 26, the mill cutters 3'! each providing a toothed frustro-conical portion 38 which sizes the core portion 2l' and insures that this core portion shall be of slightly smaller diameter than the central passage 3|.

The bit body 2d provides an annular mud chamber lil from which mud is jetted through orices All to the zone of rotation of the cutters 34 and 3l. The upper end of the bit body carries an externally threaded pin 42 for detachable connection to the lower end of the tubular drive unit 2l.

The tubular drive unit 2| may comprise a massive drill collar or sub l5 connected to the collar 22 by a nipple i5 which is threadedly received in cavities of the drill collar 45 and the collar 22. The tubular drive unit provides a longitudinal passage il which removably receives the core-withdrawing unit 25.

The tubular drive unit 2| or its component drill collar i5 provides a side portion in which is formed a sidewardly-directed window 50. the embodiment of Figs. 1-6, the window 5G is bounded by a frame member 5| which includes a window-bounding ange 52 and a peripheral flange 53 which is counter-sunk into the outer periphery of the drive unit 2| and held in place by any suitable means such as screws 51|. Around the window 59, the drive unit 2| provides a shoulder 55 against which is clamped by the trame member 5| a compressible sealing member 56 which completely surrounds the window 55 and projects into the longitudinal passage l'i to provide a sealing surface 5l' for a purpose to be described.

Adapted to be lowered into the tubular drive unit 2| and to be removably locked therein is the core-receiving or core-withdrawing unit 25. This unit is shown as having a lower end terminating adjacent the bit 20 and an upper end terminating adjacent the upper end of the drill collar 45. The core-withdrawing unit 25 includes a tubular member 66 the upper end of which is preferably closed by a head member Gl. It also provides a core passage 52 aligned with the central passage 3| and in which the core portion 27 may rise as drilling progresses. The external diameter of the core-withdrawing unit 25 and its tubular member EB is materially less than the internal diameter of the longitudinal passage 4l to provide therebetween an annular' mud-conducting space 63 which conducts a dense drilling mud from the interior of the drill string 23 to the mud chamber 49 of the bit.

It is desirable that the lower end of the tubular member 5@ telescope with the upper end of the sleeve 3) to insure alignment and to maintain a iiuid-tight junction therewith to prevent entry of high pressure drilling mud into the lower portion of the core passage 52. 1n Fig. 2 the lower end of the tubular member Sli is shown as including a skirt member 6:1 which has a lower beveled edge which can slide over and be guided by an upper beveled edge of the sleeve 3Q to telescope with this sleeve and assume the relative position shown in Fig. 2. The junction or telescoping joint may be effectively sealed against passage of mud by a pair of rubber O-rings 55 which may be carried either by the skirt member 64 or the sleeve 3d. In some instances, the lower end of the tubular member 50 or the skirt member S4 may engage a portion of the bit to act as a stop means and determine the lowermost position of the core-Withdrawing unit 25. However, I prefer to provide other stop means serving this function, as will be described.

The lower end of the tubular member 68 pre1- erably carries a core catcher which may be of conventional form to provide spring fingers G8 which assist in lifting and/or severing the core portion disposed in the core passage 32 when the drilling structure is pulled for the purpose of inspection or replacement of the bit.

As the tubular member 6B is lowered, the beveled faces of the sleeve 30 and skirt member 64 guide the lower end of the tubular member into correct centered position. Usually, however, I prefer to provide other centering means for the tubular member and Figs. 2 and 5 show a spiderlike centering member 'i0 threadedly received by the pin 42 of the bit 25 and providing four arms with downwardly converging surfaces 7| which guide the lower end of the tubular member into central position during its lowering. The space between such arms is available to conduct the drilling mud downwardly to the bit.

Near its upper end, the tubular member B provides a side portion in which is cut a sidewardly-facing window 'l2 which is adapted to register with the window 50 of the tubular drive unit 2|. Adjacent the window 12, the tubular tacts the upper end of the core portion- 21 and applies sidewise or bending forces thereto. This subdivides the upper end of the core portion 21 by breaking therefrom sizable core sections 14 or otherwise crushing or abrading such upper end toy maximize the length of the v-core portion 21.v The gyrations of the sloping surface 13 or its curvature exerts such subdividing forces on the upper end of the core -portion 21 to subdivide the core portion into core masses which may be of a size depending upon the type of formation, the natural cleavage planes of the core portion, etc. However, the sloping surface 13 faces the window 12 and deects such core masses outwardly through this window and through the aligned window 59 to discharge into the mud stream which rises in the annular space Within the well or casing and around the tubular drive unit 2| and the drill string 23. The core masses are thus carried continuously to the surface of the ground with the rising mud stream from which they may be separated to give valuable geological data as to strata recently penetrated.

The sloping surface 13 may be an integral part of the tubular member 60 or may be provided by a separate closure member 15 as suggested in Fig. l. This closure member is shown as fixed within the tubular member 68.

The invention contemplates a means for lifting the core-withdrawing unit from the tubular drive unit 2| and from the well at any time that a relatively long core section is desired. In this connection, a sand line or other lifting element can be lowered through the drill string to lock with an engaging means 16 of the upper end of the core-withdrawing unit 25 so that this unit can be bodily lifted from the tubular drive unit to withdraw a relatively long core section currently occupying the core passage 92. The core-withdrawing unit 25 is then again lowered through the drill string and assumes its position shown in Figs. l and 2.

The engaging means 16 is shown in rather conventional form as including latches 11 pivoted at 18 to a plunger member 19 and resiliently held in inward position by a spring 80. These latches provide sloping surfaces 8| terminating in hooks 82. A tapered head member, not shown, and connected to the lower end of the sand line or other lifting element, is lowered to spread the latches 11 which then spring inwardly to lock a portion of the tapered head member below the hooks 82. Upward movement of the sand line will lift the plunger member 19 relative to the head member 8| of the core-withdrawing unit 25. The rst portion of this move ment will swing inwardly a latch 83 previously seating below a shoulder of a ring 84 carried by the nipple 45. rIhe latch 83 is pivoted to the head member 8| on a pin 85 which traverses a slot receiving the lower end of the latch 83. Near its upper end, the latch 83 is pivoted at 86 to a lever 81 which is pivoted to a pin 88 'secured to the plunger member 19. As the plunger moves upwardly, the distance between the pins 85 and 88 increases to swing the latch 83 inwardly and into released position, whereupon further upward movement of the plunger member 19 will lift the entire core-withdrawing unit 25 by forces transmitted through the lever 81 and the latch 83.

The core-withdrawing unit 25 may be subseguently lowered on the sand line or lifting element, a go-devil being dropped to spread the latches 11 to release the aforesaid tapered member. Alternatively, and preferably, however, thev core-withdrawing unit is merely dropped through the drill string to settle through the mud and into the tubular drive unit 2|. If the dropping velocity is not sufficient to seat the latchA 83, starting the ow of drilling mud will cause the core-withdrawing unit 25 to be moved downward into seating position and will force the plunger member 19 downwardly to move the latch 83 into its locking position.

It is important to the invention that the corewithdrawing unit should be angularly oriented relative to the tubular drive unit during such lowering of the former into the latter so as to bring the windows 12 and 50 into registry and radial alignment. To accomplish this, the invention employs a suitable guide means, indicated generally by the numeral 99 comprising interengaging means on the tubular drive unit and the core-withdrawing unit to orient the latter relative to the former. Generally speaking, the interengaging means includes nterengageable guide elements, respectively on the two units and preferably comprising a cam means on one 0f the units and a cam follower means on the other of the units.

In the embodiment of Figs. 1 6, cam means is associated with the tubular drive unit and is provided by an inner member 9| of a shape best shown in Fig. 6. This inner member may be considered as a tube of smaller diameter than the tubular drive unit to provide an annular space 92 therebetween. At its extreme lower end, the inner member provides bosses 93 which traverse the annular space 92 and serve to center the inner member relative to the tubular drive unit. The inner member may be secured to the tubular drive unit adjacent the bosses 99, either by welding or by screws 94. The space between the bosses comprises a passage means for the mud stream.

The inner member 9| provides a longitudinal slot 95 in that side opposite the window 12. The tubular member 68 carries a massive boss or cam follower 98 (Fig. 2) which slides downwardly in the longitudinal slot 95 until it engages a closed end 91 of the slot which acts as a stop means determining the lowermost position of the core-withdrawing unit 25. When the cam follower 96'is within the longitudinal slot 95, the window 12 is correctly angularly oriented relative to the window 50.

. To swing the cam follower 96 and its connected core-withdrawing unit into correct orientation relative to the longitudinal slot 95 during lowering of the core-withdrawing unit, the upper end ofthe inner member 9| provides a pair of upwardly-exposed substantially helical cam surfaces, 98 which feed smoothly into the longitudinal slot 95 and which converge, at the upper end of the inner member, to a point or edge 99 which may be radial or sloping as shown. The edge 99, should it be contacted by the cam follower 96, turns the core-withdrawing unit 25 to engage one or the other of the helical cam surfaces 98, the latter being relatively steep to guide the cam follower around the vertical axis and turn the core-withdrawing unit during its lowering until the windows 12 and 50 are in correct angular alignment. Alignment of the windows in a direction axially of the tubular drive unit is insured by seating of the cam follower 96 against the closed end el of the longitudinal slot It is very desirable that the guide means, here formed by the cam surfaces 98 and the follower de, should be disposed to engage at a position above the window It is also desirable that the lower end of the core-withdrawing unit shall enter some centering means before being turned by the cam means into correct orienting position. It is also desirable that the lower end of the corewithdrawing unit should be below the window 50 before engagement of the cam means. These relationships are insured if the axial distance between the lower end of the core-withdrawing unit and the window i2 is greater than the maximum axial distance between the window 5E and the most removed portion of the guide element or cam carried thereby. While it is possible to position the centering member lo to receive the lower end of the core-withdrawing unit before engagement of the cam means, the inner member 9| of the embodiments of Figs. 1 5 acts as an initial centering means. It is not difficult to guide the lower end of the core-withdrawing unit into the inner member as the nipple 4E will approximately guide the unit. Additionally, however, it is often desirable to provide a minor projection lo@ near the head member 6| which, with the sloping edge will guide the lower end into the inner member 9|.

In all instances, it is desirable that the mud stream be sealed from the adjacent portions of the windows .lil and i2 to prevent escape of mud directly into these windows and into the rising mud stream. The sealing member 56, surrounding the window 50, may serve in this capacity, the sealing surface 5l directly engaging the periphery of the tubular member ed. However, Figs. 1 and 3 show an arrangement whereby an annular cavity I| is formed in the outer periphery of the tubular member @il to surround the window T2, this cavity receiving an annular sealing member |02 providing an outer sealing surface |63 adapted to engage the sealing surface El pressurally to effect a good seal. As best shown in Fig. 3, the sealing member |il2 may be held in place by a frame lil retained by screws |65. Alternatively, the sealing member i2 may be formed of rubber directly welded or permanently adhered to the tubular member til. Also as shown in Fig. 3, the sealing member t desirably extends inwardly across the annular space e2, preferably providing longitudinal side members lult formed of rubber or other flexible material and contoured to mate with the periphery of the sealing member |2. The mating surfaces slide relative to each other only during lowering of the core-withdrawing unit a distance equal to the window height. Additionally, when hydraulic mud pressure is built up in the annular space 92, it tends to force the side members |66 inwardly and into pressural contact with the sealing member |02, thus insuring a good seal.

In the embodiment of the invention in Figs. 7-10, the tubular drive unit 2| is made sectional, as shown, to facilitate manufacture. Additionally, in an upper section thereof, the cam means is formed by an inner member welded to or integral with the tubular drive unit. This inner member is here formed of two helically-extending strips Hi! and i|| respectively welded at ||2 and ||3 to the tubular drive unit. The strips ||D and provide upwardly-exposed substantially helical cam surfaces ||4 and ||5 which meet at an upper edge H6 (Figs. 7 and 10).

In thisA embodiment, the cam surfaces Illl and ||5 in effect diverge downwardly to their halflength points and then converge downwardly to form a ways or tapered socket, indicated in Fig. 9 by the numeral I8.

In the embodiment of Figs. 7-10, the corewithdrawing unit 25 carries a cam follower |20 having tapered cam surfaces |2| and |22 (Fig. 10) shaped helically to correspond to the lower portions of the cam surfaces lill and H5. The arrangement is such that, in the absence of a stop means, the tapered cam surfaces |2| and |22 wedge against the cam surfaces lili and ||5 when the windows are in radial alignment. A tight wedging is not desired and to prevent this, the lowermost end of the cam follower |20 provides a pointed section |23 which seats against a stop member |24, Welded in a slot of the tubular drive unit as shown in Fig. 7, just before Wedgingl would take place. Some degree of wedging can be tolerated so long as the core-withdrawing unit can be lifted by the sand line. Interposing a jar in the sand line will facilitate unseating if there is any substantial wedging action.

The cam surfaces H4, H5, |2| and |22 are preferably not radial or are at least so formed that the cam follower |20 once it enters the tapered socket i8, cannot be removed therefrom by radial movement.

This type of guiding means or orienting means may be employed irrespective of the angular position of the window 'I2 in the tubular member Bil and, if desired, such window may be formed diametricallyopposite the zone of the cam follower |20. However, I prefer to dispose this window 'I2 on the same side of the tubular member 6B as is the cam follower |24] and to provide a passage |25 through the cam follower |20 which interconnects and is in radial alignment with the windows 50 and l2, all as best shown in Figs. '7, 9 and 10. Correspondingly, the sloping surface 'I3 of the closure member l5 deects the core masses through a sidewardly-facing passage means formed by the windows 'I2 and 5D and the passage |25.

With such an arrangement, it is desirable to seal from such passage means the high pressure mud in annular space |26 around the core-withdrawing unit 25 and within the tubular drive unit 2|. In this connection, the cam follower |29 provides arcuate surfaces |22! on opposite sides of the passage |25 and arcuate surfaces iB and |29 respectively above and below the passage |25, all of these arcuate surfaces being parallel to the inner cylindrical surface of the tubular drive unit. Such arcuate surfaces may be wedged tightly against and in surface Contact with such inner cylindrical surface, if desired, to form a substantially mud-tight seal. However, the cani follower |29 will be less tightly wedged in the ways or tapered socket im if those arcuate surfaces are covered at least partially with a layer of sealing material |33, typically a somewhat deformable material permanently bonded to the metal arcuate surfaces. Such sealing means should completely surround the periphery of the passage |25 and will be pressed against the inner cylindrical surface of the tubular drive unit when the pointed section |23 engages the stop member |24.

The core-withdrawing unit 25 carries at its upper end an engaging means "it as previously described and provides the same type of releasable latch 83, except that this latch is shown as seating beneath a shoulder provided directly by the nipple 46. As the core-withdrawing unit moves downwardly into the tubular. drive unit 2|, the cam follower '|20 engages one or the other of the cam surfaces I I4, I I 5, depending upon the angular orientation of the core-withdrawing unit at the time. Should this angular orientation be substantially 180 from that desired for window alignment, the pointed section |23 will contact the upper edge I I6 of the cam means to start the turning of the core-withdrawing unit in one direction or the other. The core-withdrawing unit continues its downward movement until the cam follower is seated in the tapered socket llt, the seated position being determined by engagement of the pointed'section |23 with the stop member |24. When it is desired to remove a core segment, `drilling is stopped and a sand line or other lifting element is lowered and latched with the core-withdrawing unit to permit its withdrawal from the well, as previously described.

The lowermost end of the tubular memberB is of slightly different configuration in this embodiment, as compared with the embodiment of Fig. 2. Referring to =Fig. 8, this lower end, as before, drops into a socket ISI of the bit, being guided by sloping walls |32 and in this connection telescopes v/ith a portion of the bit, albeit not with the sleeve 30 which is eliminated in this embodiment. The lower end of the tubular member 60 carries a sealing ring |33 which bears against the socket walls to seal the mud in the mud chamber 40 from the central passage 3| which is here formed by the bit body itself. Otherwise, the construction of the bit, shown in Fig. 8, is substantially the Same as previously described.

However, in the currently-described embodiment, it is usually desirable to dispose a centering member |34, similar to the centering member 10 previonsly described, at a position only a short distance below the window Zone. In Fig. r1, the centering member |34 is shown adjacent the threaded junction of two sections of the drill collar 45 forming a part of the tubular drive unit 2 I. The centering member |34 thus receives and centers the lower end of the tubular member 60 well before engagement between the cam follower and the cam surfaces I I4, I |5.

In the embodiment of Figs. 11-14 a somewhat different guiding means and a different sealing means are employed for respectively orienting the core-withdrawing unit and sealing the mud from the windows. In this embodiment, the cam surfaces are formed on an inner member |40, similar to the inner member 9|, except that it is peripherally sized to t snugly into the tubular drive unit 2|. The upper portion of the inner member provides upwardly-facing helical cam surfaces |4| and |42, meeting at an edge |43 and peripherally converging to a longitudinal slot |44 having a closed end |45 serving as a stop for a cam follower |46 of the core-withdrawing unit 25. An annular space |41 is formed within the upper portion of the inner member |40 around the core-withdrawing unit 25.

The lower portion of the inner member |40 is longitudinally grooved to provide mud-conducting passag-es |48 separated by arms |49 which maintain the inner member |40 centered. The passages |48 provide upper ends opening on the annular space |41 and lower ends discharging into an annular space |50, thereby conducting the mud past the window zone.

The lower portion of the inner member |46 forms a head member 5| which is bored to provide a passage |52 and counterbored to provide a socket |53 and a shoulder |54. The upper portion of the head member I 5| provides a shoulder which is preferably conical to guide the lower end of the tubular member into the passage |52. The lowermost end of the tubular member 60 is of reduced diameter to slide through the passage |52 and provide a shoulder the main portion of the tubular member 'Sil being of a size to be received in the socket |53. A, sealing member |51, preferably an annular sealing ring, surrounds the reduced-diameter portion of the tubular member 66 and is compressed between the shoulders|54 and |56 when the cam follower |46 engages the closed end |45 of the slot |44. At this instant also, a sealing member |58, projecting from a collar |55 of the core-withdrawing unit 25, is pressed against the shoulder |55 in sealing relationship. The sealing members |51 and |58 are preferably formed of soft sealing material, such as rubber, to be pressed tightly against their respective shoulders. The function of these sealing members is to seal the mud above or below the head member 51 from entry around the tubular member 60 into the windows 12 and 50.

The head member |5| provides a passage |60, similar to the passage |25 of Fig. '1, which interconnects the two windows to form the sidewardlydirected passage means. The inner member |40 may be welded to the tubular drive unit 2| within this passage means, as indicated by the `loeripheral weld IiI. The upper end of the inner member |46 may also be Welded to the tubular drive unit or it may be secured thereto as by one or more screws |62. As before, the sloping surfact 13 of the closure member 15 faces the windows, aligned by the guide or orienting means, and deflects the core masses outwardly into the rising mud stream.

The lower end of the structure, below that shown in Fig. ll, may correspond to the structure shown in Figs. 2 or 8. The upper portion of the core-withdrawing unit 25 may correspond to the structure previously described concerning Figs. 1 and 7.

In this embodiment of the invention, the corewithdrawing unit will be angularly oriented, during the time it is lowered into the tubular drive unit, by engagement of the cam follower |46 with one or the other of the cam surfaces MI, |42. This will turn the core-withdrawing unit to bring the windows 50, 12 into axial alignment. Just before the cam follower |46 seats against the stop formed by the closed end |45, the sealing members |51 and |58 will respectively engage their shoulders so that the last increment of movement will compress these sealing members further to provide an effective mud seal.

In this and the other embodiments of the invention, the core-withdrawing unit is continuously forced downwardly against its stop by any mud stream moving downwardly in the drill string and in the tubularv drive unit. This downward pressure on the core-withdrawing unit 25 ordinarily exceeds any upward pressure thereon from the core portion 21. However, the core-withdrawing unit is locked against upward movement by thelatch 83 to prevent accidental upward displacement should the upward forces exceed the downward, mud-produced forces.

In the embodiment of Figs. l5-20 the drive unit 2| or its component drill collar 45 provides two windows 50 on opposite sides. The window'12 of the tubular member 60 can register with either of the windows Correspondingly, the corewithdrawing unit 25 need only turn through a maximum angle of 90 to register the window 'F2 with one of the windows 50.

The interengaging or guide means for accomplishing this is shown as including an inner member 22@ having upwardly facing cam surfaces 23! and 222 meeting at a crest 203 and opposed cam surfaces and 225 meeting at a crest 223 (Fig. 17), the cam surfaces 202 and 235 peripherally converging to a slot 20'! and the cam surfaces Zei and 2252 converging to an opposed slot 233. These slots have closed ends serving as stops for a cam follower Zii comprising a heavy pin extending through the core-withdrawing unit 25, this pin being guided into the slots by the cam surfaces.

The inner member may be integral with or secured to a head member or passaged member 2i2 (Fig. i9) and providing a lower boss or head 2i3 (Fig. l5). The member 2i2 provides a central chamber 2M of sumcient size to receive the tubular member Si! and provides passages 2i 5 and 2lb bounded by bridging walls 2H' and 238, these passages bridging the annular space between the tubular member {if} and th-e drill collar to interconnect ne window l2 with the faced window to conduct the core particles thereto, the other window 53 being blocked by the tubular member 59. The bridging walls 2H and 2i8 may be welded to the drive unit 2i around the windows 59 indicated by the numeral 2 i 9,

That portion of the annular space between the tubular member Si! and the drill collar 45 not occupied by the passaged member 2I2 is formed by the latter and its head 2l3 into two mud passages 223 which conduct the mud past the window zone and into an annular space 22|, corresponding to the annular space 92 previously described. However, in this embodiment, the annular space 22! is formed around a tube 222 having an upper end threaded or otherwise connected at 223 to the head 2i3 to depend therefrom. The lower end of the tube 222 telescopes with a portion of the bit 20, as by telescoping into a sleeve 224 of the bit, being removably sealed thereto by sealing rings 225 carried in relatively deep annular pockets of the sleeve. The tube 222 loosely surrounds the core-receiving tubular member 60 and depends in a socket 221 of the bit. No seal at this point is required as the junction is sealed rom the high pressure mud by the sealing rings The high pressure mud is sealed from the windows I! both by the passaged member 2l2 and by a' sealing means 230 which, in this embodiment, may be exclusively above the window zone. The sealing means 23D is shown as including a relatively massive tapered resilient sealing member 23! secured to the core-withdrawing unit and compressing against a seat 232 when the cam follower 2H! is seated. The seal 232 may be formed as a tapered wall of a projection 233 secured to or integral with the passaged member 212. The mud passages 22D open on the seat 232 above the sealing member 23|, as best shown in Fig. 8, and may be traversed by webs 235 of the seat-forming projection 233 for strength and for guiding the lowermost end of the tubular member 5!! into the central chamber 2M of the projection as the core-withdrawing unit 25 is being lowered.

The remainder of the structure in the embodiment of Figs. -20 is substantially the same as that previously described and certain main elements are indicated by corresponding numerals.

In the operation, this embodiment is usually assembled as shown and lowered to deepen the hole, the core rising in the core passage 52 and being maximized in length by subdivision of its upper portion adjacent the window level. When it is desired to remove a core section, a sand line or other lifting element is lowered to lock with the engaging means 'i3 whereupon raising of the lifting element will swing the latch 83 into disengaged position to permit the entire core-withdrawing unit 25 to be raised to the surface of the ground. During later lowering of this core-withdrawing unit, by gravity or duid pressure or on a sand line, the beveled lower end oi the core-receiving tubular member 69 will be guided by contact with the cam surfaces, the seat 232 and/or the webs 235 into the central chamber 2l!! and centrally into the tube 222, whence the tube 222 will guide it accurately into the socket 221 of the bit. While the lower end is being guided by the tube 22,2, the follower 2i@ will engage the cam surfaces 202, 202 or 22l, 225 which will turn the core-withdrawing unit 25 into one of the two window-aligning positions during continued lowering of the unit. During the last increment of lowering movement, the sealing member 23! is pressed against the seat 232 and the latch 83 will become engaged to lock the unit. After starting the ilow of high-pressure drilling mud through the passages 22E! and the annular space 22! to the bit, drilling can be resumed.

Various changes and modications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and certain of these changes and modications will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the herein-presented description of exemplary embodiments.

I claim as my invention:

1. A coring structure adapted to drive a bit having cutter means for drilling into the earth in an annular zone to leave a core portion which enters a central passage of the bit, said Gering structure including: a tubular drive unit for said bit and providing a sidewardly-facing window at a level a considerable distance above said bit; a core-withdrawing unit having upper and lower ends and comprising a tubular member of an internal diameter to receive said core portion, said tubular member having a sidewardly-facing window at said level when said lower end is adjacent said bit to receive said core portion, said tubular member having an external diameter less than the internal diameter of said tubular drive unit to beaxially insertable and withdrawable therefrom; and guide means comprising interengaging means on said units for turning said tubular member during its insertion into said drive unit to bring its window into alignment with said window of said drive unit.

2. A coring structure as deiined in claim l, in which said upper end of said core-withdrawing unit is substantially above said window of said tubular member and in which said interengaging means of said guide means are disposed to engage at a position between said upper end and said window of said tubular drive unit.

3. A coring structure as dened in claim 2, in which said interengaging means includes interengageable guide elements respectively carried by said units and in which the axial distance :between said lower end of Said core-withdrawing unit and said window oi said tubular member is greater than the maximum axial distance between the window of said drive unit and the most removed portion of the guide element carried thereby so that said lower end of said corewithdrawing unit is lowered to a .position below said window of said drive unit before said guide elements engage each other to orient said windows.

4. A coring structure as defined in claim 1, in which said guide means comprises a cam means on one of said units and a cam follower on the other of said units engageable with said cam means to turn said tubular member during its insertion into said tubular drive unit.

5. A coring structure as defined in claim 1, in which said guide -means comprises a cam means on said tubular drive unit and exposed to the interior thereof and a cam follower on said core-withdrawing unit engageable with said cam means to turn said core-withdrawing unit during its insertion into said tubular drive unit.

6. A coring structure as defined in claim 5, in which said cam means has an upwardlyexposed substantially helical cam surface engageable by said cam follower during lowering of said core-withdrawing unit to turn the latter to bring said windows into alignment.

7. A coring structure as defined in claim 6, in which said cam means comprises an inner member secured within said tubular drive unit and providing said cam surface.

8. A coring structure as defined in claim 6, in which said cam means provides a second upwardly-exposed substantially helical cam surface diverging axially relative to said first-named cam surface, said cam surfaces being respectively engageable by said cam follower to turn said core-withdrawing unit during its insertion.

9. A coring structure as defined in claim 1, in which said tubular member provides a closure adjacent and facing its window, said closure providing a sloping surface engageable by said core portion to subdivide same into core masses, said sloping surface guiding said masses through aligned windows.

10. A coring structure as defined in claim 1, in which said tubular drive unit is substantially larger in internal diameter than the external diameter of said core-withdrawing unit to provide therebetween a mud-conducting passage adapted to conduct mud to said bit under high pressure, and including sealing means between said units for sealing said annular space from the space bounded by the aligned windows.

11. A coring structure as dened in claim 10, in which said sealing means comprises a sealing surface on one of said units and a compressible 14 sealing member on the other of said units positioned to engage said sealing surface.

12. A coring structure as dened in claim 10, in which said sealing surface and said sealing member surround said space defined by said aligned windows.

13. A coring structure as dened in claim 1, in which said tubular drive unit is substantially larger in internal diameter than the external diameter of said core-withdrawing unit to provide therebetween a mud-conducting passage, a centering member extending from a position above said aligned windows to a position below said aligned windows, said centering member providing a side portion disposed between said windows and having a third window through which said window of said core-withdrawing unit communicates with said window of said tubular drive unit, said centering member providing a passage means communicating with said annular space to conduct said mud through said centering member and toward said bit.

14. A coring structure as defined in claim 13, in which said sealing means extends around said core-withdrawing unit to seal same relative to said centering member.

15. A coring structure as defined in claim 1, including means for locking said units together with said windows in radial alignment, and means for unlocking said units to permit withdrawal of said core-withdrawing unit from said tubular drive unit.

16. A coring structure as defined in claim 1 v adapted for use with a lowerable lifting element REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,785,120 Harding Dec. 16, 1930 1,785,405 Candee et al Dec. 16, 1930 1,867,024 Oliver July 12, 1932 2,138,006 Howard Nov. 29, 1938 2,514,585 Natland July 11, 1950 

